Hand truck



Patented July 15, 1952 UNITED STATES HAND TRUCK Ernest Y'r Takitani, Wail'uku, Maui,

Territory of Hawaii Applica-tion M arch 16, 1951', Serial-N". 215342 This, invention relates to hand trucks, and more particularly to a hand truck'fonhan'dling loaded beveragebottle cases; H o I It is among the objects of the inventiont'o'pro vide' an improved hand truck" for beverage bottle cases which will carry a stack of loaded bottle cases andiwili pick up,,carry and releasethe bottom. case of a stack without the use of a pallet or'pla'tforn ifor supporting. the bottom case above a; floor; which has oper'ator' actuated means for engaging and releasingthe bottom case, which means is resiliently operated to firmly secure. the bottom case'to the truck while the cases are being moved; which independently supports all of the cases carried thereby and deposits suchfcase's in an. evenly stacked condition; andWhich simple and durablein construction, economical to man-'- ufacture and easy to use. I

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Figure 1 is a rearelevational" viewIof a hand truck, illustrative bf the'inventiom 1 V Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on, anemarged scale on the line 2-2 of Figure 1';

Figure 3 is a tcross s'ec'ti'onal view on the line 3-.3 of Figure 2; and' a Figure 4' is a fragmentary"cross-sectionalview similar to Figure 2 .but showing the parts 'in different operative positions from that illustrated in Figure 2. I I

With continued reference to the drawingthe truck comprises a U-shaped" frame l0, preferably formed of suitable metallic tubing bent to shape,

and including a pair of spaced apart andsubstantially parallel legs II and I2,- and'an arcu ately curved'bigh-t I3 joining the ends ofthe' legs atone'end of the frame and constituting a handlefor the truck.

The legs H and I2 are arcuately curved at their endsremote from the bight I3 in a direction away'from a plane including the center lines-oi the straight portions-o-f the legs and the center line of the bight portion or handle, and an axle l4' extends-transversely of the frame at the ends of'the legs remote from thebight I3 This axle i's-secure'd to the legs by suitable clips" I5 and I6 surrounding'the axle and secured one to each of the legs' at the corresponding endso'f the'leg's'.

Wheels I1 and I8 are journaled on theaxleone atithe outer side of each of the legs II and I2 and: a pair of. leg extensions I9 and 20 extend .from the straight portions: of the. legs adjacent the-curved, axle receiving portions thereof in a direction away from the bight of the frame and 4 Cl aims; (01. 214-654) with their center lines substantially in the abovementioned plane including the'c'enter' lines ofthe straight portions of the legs and the center line of the bight [3. These leg extensionshave a length such that their distal ends rest upon a floor supporting the wheels I! and I8 whenth'e frame is disposed in substantially verti-cal' upright position, as illustrated in Figure 2, the leg extensions then constituting c'ontinuation's'ofthe straight portions of the legs past the outwardly curved portions of the legsto the fico'r.

A plurality of substantially straight lift arms 2l project outwardly from the legs II and I2 at one side of the frame and have a length substantially equal to the width of the bottle'cases', as indicated at 22 and 23. These hit'arms are each connected at one end to the corresponding frame leg, are'disposed substantially perpendicular to the frame legs and are arranged in pairs of which the two arms of each pair'are' c'arried one .by each of the frame legs and are disposed at substantially the same distance from the distal ends of the corresponding leg extensions l9 and 20, so that the pairs of lift arms" have their upper surfaces disposed in planes" which are spaced apart longitudinally of the frame and are substantially parallel to the axle I l-an'dlto each other. The" distance between eachtwo adjacent pairs of lift arms is substantially the' same as the height of a loaded bottle case, as illustrated in Figure 1,-so that'a plurality of loadedbottlecases can be carried in relatively stacked positionon the lift arms of the frame.

With wheeled hand truck-s now in use for moving stacks'o'f loaded bottle cases, the bottom case o'f'the stack' musteither be supported: on: a pallet 0r platform so that the lowest pair'o'f lift arms-of the truck can be run under this bottom case, or otherwise, if the bottom case is placed directly on the floor, the operator'must' bodily pick up this bottom case and place it on top of the stack after the cases in' th'e stack above the bottom case have been moved away from the bottom case by'the truck, or must pickup the bottom case during a subsequent trip;

The provision of pallets'or platforms requires anadditional expense and is: undesirable.- because these pallets or platform'stake up additionalspace and are inthe waywhen not supporting a stack of bottle cases. PickingJup and moving the bottom case bodily by thezoperator: is also wasteful of time and labor and is highly'inc'onvenientitit-isnecessary to make a special trip with theihandtruck to pick up the bottom cases from several-stacks The present invention provides: an: improved hand truck which will pick up the bottom case of the stack and carry it along with the remaining cases of the stack at the time the stack is moved, and does not require any platform or pallet for supporting the bottom case.

Bearing blocks 25 and 26 are mounted on the outwardly curved portions of the legs H and I2, one bearing block being mounted on each leg at the side thereof remote from the corresponding leg extension 9 or 20, and these blocks are spaced along the legs at substantially equal distances from the axle clips l and IS. A shaft 21 is journaled at its ends in the bearing blocks 25 and 26, and is normally disposed above and substantially parallel to the axle. Lever arms 28 and 29 project radially outwardly from the shaft 2|,'one

near each of the bearing blocks 25 and 26, and

these lever arms have their center lines substantially in a common plane which also includes the center line of the shaft 21.

Links 30 and 3| are connected each at one end to the lever arms 28 and 29, respectively, at the distal ends of these lever arms, and the links extend from the distal ends of the corresponding lever arms past the legs of the frame and adjacent the lift arms 2| of the lowest pair of lift arms. 7

Guides 32 and 33 are secured to and depend from the two lift arms of the lower pair of lift arms intermediate the length of the lift armsand at substantially the same distance from the corresponding frame legs I! and I2. These guides slidably received the links 30 and 3|, and the links are provided at their ends remote from the lever arms 28 and 29 with downwardly directed hooks, as indicated at 34, for the link 3|.

Coiled tension springs 35 and 36 are connected between the links 30 and 3|, respectively, and the adjacent leg extensions l9 and 20, and these springs resiliently urge the corresponding links to their raised position, as illustrated in Figure 4, wherein the corresponding lever arms are disposed between the shaft 2'|, and at least one lever arm engages a stop 42 on the corresponding frame leg. When the links are thus retracted, the corresponding guides 32 and 33 support the links so that the hooks at the free ends of the links are disposed above the upper edges of the walls and partitions'of the bottom bottle case 23, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 4; and the springs 35 and-36 are disposed above the corresponding links, resiliently holding the links in their raised'position.

Blocks or pads of resilient material, as indicated at 31, are secured one to each of the frame leg extensions l9 and 20 at the sides of the frame legs remote from the axle 4 and in opposition to the hooks 34 carried at the forward ends of the links 30 and 3|. 7

A' footpedal 38 projects upwardly from the shaft 21 between the lever arms 28 and 29 when the links are raised and retracted. When the truck is moved up to a stack of bottles, the hooks 34 pass over the upper edges of theside walls and partition walls of the bottom bottle case, as illustrated in Figure 4. When the truck has been moved against the bottle cases, and the lift arms 2| slide under the bottoms of the corresponding cases of the stack above the. bottom case, the foot pedal 38 is pressed down,rotating shaft 21, and the hooks 34 will drop into contact with the adjacent side of the upper portion'of one of the partitions of the bottom bottle case." i

As illustrated in Figures 2', 3' and4; the partition engaged by the hooks is indicatedat 40 and 'is parallel to the axle |4' and adjacentithe .side

4 wall of the bottle case remote from and parallel to the axle.

When the hooks are engaged with the partition wall 40, the arms 28 and 29 extend upwardly from the shaft 21, the springs and 36 are below the corresponding links and urge the links downwardly and toward the frame, and a second foot pedal 4| projects upwardly from the shaft 21.

The second foot pedal 4| projects outwardly from the shaft 21 at a location between the lever arms 28 and 29, and is angularly spaced from the foot pedal 38.

The bottom case is now secured to the truck and the springs have sufilcient strength to firmly compress the portion of the bottom bottle case between the resilient pads 31 and the hooks 34 ,and support the weight of this case from the hooks and the pads. The truck may now be tilted backwardly, lifting all of the bottle cases of the stack including the bottom case, and may be wheeled with the load of bottle cases to a different location, the distal ends of the leg extensions l9 and 20 being now disposed abovethe .fioor supporting the wheels.

In order to release a load of bottle cases from the truck at a desired location, the pedal 4| is pressed to advance the links and release the hooks from the partitionwall 40. As shaft 21 is turned, arms 28 and 29 are moved back to their position below the shaft lowering the arm connected ends of the links and raising the ,hooks to release the partition wall of the bottom case. As the arms are'swung from their upper to their lower position, the links are first moved forwardly away from the frame so that the hooks are freed from the partition wall 40 as they are raised. After the hooks have been freed from this partition wall, the links are moved rearwardly toward the frame and below the springs 35 and 36, so that the springs now hold the links retracted with the hooks raised, as explained above. 7 V v The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by, the foregoing description, and all changes which come, within the 'meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

.1. A hand truck for handling loaded bottle cases comprising a U-shaped frame having spaced apart and substantially parallel legs and a bight portion joining the legs atone end of the frame and constituting a handle for the truck, an axle extending across said frame at the other end thereof and disposed substantially perpendicular to both of said legs and connected thereto, wheels journaled on said axle one adjacent each frame leg, said legs being curved at their axle connected ends away from the plane of the center lines of said legs and said bight portion, leg extensions extending from the curved portions of said legs with their center lines substantially in said" plane and having their distal ends positioned to-rest upon a floor'supporting said wheels when'said frame is in substantially vertical position, lift arms projecting outwardly from said legs at one side of said' frame and arranged in pairs with the two arms of each pair connected one to eachof said legs, said pairs of lift arms having their surfaces remote from said axle disposed in planes substantially parallel to said axle and to each other and spaced apart to receive loaded bottle cases thereon, bearing blocks mounted one on each of said legs adjacent said axle and at the side of said frame remote from said lift arms, a shaft extending transversely of said frame and journaled in said bearing blocks, arms projecting radially from said shaft at spaced apart locations along the shaft and between said bearing blocks, links pivotally connected one to each arm at the distal ends of the arms and extending from said arms past said frame legs, each of said links being connected at one end to the corresponding arm and having a hook at its other end, guides secured one to each lift arm of the lower pair of lift arms and slidably receiving said links, springs connected one between each link and the adjacent leg extension urging said links to a retracted position in which said hooks are raised above the top edge of a bottom bottle case, a pedal on said shaft for raising said hooks so that said links may move in either direction across the top of a floor supported bottle case, a second pedal on said shaft for advancing said links and lowering said hooks to a position to engage a partition wall of a bottom bottle case, said springs moving said hooks into engagement with such a partition, and pads of resilient material secured one on each of said leg extensions in opposition to said hooks.

2. A hand truck for handling loaded bottle cases comprising a U-shaped frame, an axle extending transversely of said frame at the open end of the latter, means securing said axle to said frame at a location spaced from a plane including the center lines of the frame, wheels journaled on said axle one near each end thereof, lift arms projecting from said frame at the side thereof remote from said axle and arranged in pairs spaced apart longitudinally of the frame, a shaft journaled on said frame adjacent and substantially parallel to said axle, lever arms projecting radially from said shaft at spaced apart locations therealong and in the same direction, links secured one to each lever arm at the distal ends of the lever arms, said links being secured each at one end to the corresponding lever arm and extending respectively along the lift arms of the pair of lift arms adjacent the open end of the frame, a hook on the other end of each link, guides connected one to each lift arm of the pair of lift arms adjacent the open end of the frame and slidably receiving the adjacent links, springs connected one between each link and said frame for retracting said links, foot pedals on said shaft for manually advancing said links against the force of said springs, and pads on said frame in opposition to said hooks for contacting one side of a bottle case engaged by said hooks.

3. A hand truck for handling loaded bottle cases comprising an elongated frame, an axle extending transversely of said frame at one end of the latter, means securing said axle to said frame at a location spaced from one side of the frame, wheels journaled on said axle one near each end thereof, a pair of lift arms projecting from the other side of said frame adjacent said one end thereof, a shaft journaled on said frame adjacent and substantially parallel to said axle, lever arms projecting radially from said shaft at spaced apart locations therealong and in the same direction, links secured one to each lever arm at the distal ends of th lever arms, said links being secured each at one end to the corresponding lever arms and extending respectively along the adjacent lift arms, a hook on the other end of each link, guides connected one to each lift arm and slidably receiving the adjacent links, springs connected one between each link and said frame resiliently retracting said links with said hooks, in either raised or lowered position, foot pedals on said shaft for manually raising said hooks and advancing said links against the force of said springs to release said hooks from a Wall of a bottle case and for lowering said hooks into engagement with a bottle case wall, and pads on said frame in opposition to said hooks for contacting one side of a bottle case engaged by said hooks and connecting such a bottle case to said truck for movement thereby.

4. An hand truck for handling stacks of loaded oottle cases comprising a U-shaped frame, an axle disposed transversely of said frame adjacent the open end of the latter, means securing said frame to said axle with the axle spaced from one side of the frame, wheels journalled on said axle one at each end thereof, lift arms projecting substantially perpendicularly from the other side of said frame at a location along the latter to engage under the bottom of the case immediately above the bottom case of a stack of bottle cases to lift all of the cases in the stack above the bottom case, hook means mounted on said frame below said lift arms and projecting from said other side of the frame to releaseably engage the bottom case of a stack of bottle cases, and operator control means mounted on said frame and connected to said hook means for engaging said hook means with and releasing it from the bottom case of a stack of bottle cases.

ERNEST Y. TAKITANI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,971,952 Townsend Aug. 28, 1934 2,292,234 Malo Aug. 4, 1942 2,433,754 Belko Dec. 30, 1947 2,514,972 Reed July 11, 1950 

